Power supply circuit for electronic telephone systems



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

F. A. MORRIS POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT FOR ELECTRONIC TELEPHONE SYSTEMS frank CZ. 77Zpr'r'i-S JXM Mw EQ NQ W WN Q3 B p 1% s I l S wfi w PW m w 1.3 T L Q w a I" N June 1* 1954 A, OR IS 2,680,782

\ POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT FOR ELECTRONIC TELEPHONE SYSTEMS Filed April 26, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Lee Patented June 8, 1954 POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT FOR ELECTRONIC TELEPHONE SYSTEMS Frank A. Morris, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Stromberg-Carlson Company, a corporation of New York Application April 26, 1950, Serial No. 158,132

32 Claims.

The present invention relates to automatic telephone systems and more particularly to power conservation circuits suitable for use in a fully automatic electronic telephone system.

Although not specifically limited thereto, apparatus embodying the present invention is particularly designed for use with and will hereinafter be illustrated and described in connection with the fully automatic electronic telephone system described and claimed in an application Serial No. 134,974, filed December 24, 1949, to Robert B. Trousdale and Frank A. Morris. Such an electronic telephone system, which is preferably designed to provide selective two-way communication between any two lines of a one hundred line group, is provided with a plurality of identical line selecting links both of the nonnumerical type, such as line finders, and of the numerical type, such as selectors and connectors, which are common to the lines of the system and are controllable over calling lines to establish the desired talking circuits. Thus, in the system disclosed in the above-identified application, a plurality of identical finder-connector links are provided, the number of links employed in the system being chosen as required to handle the busy hour traffic requirements of the particular exchange. Each of the finderconnector links is comprised of a plurality of electronic circuits, described in detail in the above-mentioned application, which employ a large number of vacuum tubes having filaments which must be brought to the correct thermal emission temperature before proper operation of the circuits associated therewith is obtained.

While it is possible to utilize vacuum tubes of the cold cathode type, which do not require a separate source of filament power, such tubes have objectionable characteristics which make them unsuitable for use in many of the circuits of the electronic telephone system. Additionally, many tube types are not available with cold cathodes so that it is not commercially feasible to provide the system with a complete complement of cold cathode tubes.

In many periods during each twenty-four-hour day, the traflic handled by the system is substantially reduced from its maximum, or busy hour value. Thus, for example, in a system employing ten percent trunking, three finder-connector links may be sufficient to handle average trafiic, this number being capable of reduction during certain periods of the twenty-iour-hour schedule; namely, during the late evening and early morning periods. However, several additional finder-connector links must be conditioned to anticipate trafiic increase during the busy periods or peaks which usually occur during the hours of 11:00 a. m. and 5:00 p. m. In this connection, reference may be had to the volume Automatic Telephony by Smith and Campbell, published by McGraw-Hill Book Company in 1921 wherein there appears at page 382 a typical load curve of a central ofiice for a twenty-fourhour period.

In the fully automatic electronic telephone system disclosed in the application referred to above, it is desirable to conserve the power consumed by the filaments of the vacuum tubes employed in the system. However, it is necessary to anticipate the use of additional finder-connector links and to condition such additional links for operation by heating the filaments of the vacuum tubes thereof so that there will be no time delay in obtaining dial tone when the additional links are seized. In this connection it will be understood that the life of a vacuum tube is a function of the length of time the filament is heated so that the tube complement of the finder-connector links and other associated switching equipment deteriorates whether the link is carrying calls or not so long as the filaments remain heated. On the other hand, it is not reasonable to expect to heat the filaments only when the finder-connector link is in demand since the preheating time is excessive and the constant heating and cooling of the filament shortens the life of the filament by a substantial amount due to the mechanical expansion and contraction thereof.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the invention to provide a fully automatic electronic telephone system embodying new and improved power conservation facilities.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a power conservation circuit for the line connecting links of an electronic telephone system in which heating of the filaments of additional links is progressively increased in proportion to the number of links then in use.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a power conservation circuit for the line selecting links of an electronic telephone system in which the preheating time for additional links is reduced in proportion to the number of links in use at a given time.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved power conservation circuit for the line selecting links of an electronic telephone system wherein the heatcircuit i3 and a connector circuit I l.

mon equipment, indicated'generally at ing and cooling of the filaments of the vacuum tubes of additional links is made to occur at a gradual rate so as to increase the life thereof.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved power conservation circuit for the line selecting links of an electronic telephone system in which there is provided locking means for holding in an auxiliary link when it is in use,

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a block diagram of an electronic telephone system embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram partly inbloci. diagram form of the power conservation circuit embodied in the electronic telephone system of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a graph showing an operating characteristic of a portion of the apparatus of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is an alternative embodiment of the present improved power conservation circuit which may be embodied in the electronic telephone system of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there illustrated in Fig. l, in block dia gram form, a fully automatic electronic telephone system of the improved form described in detail in the above-identified application. In the systern shown, a subscriber substation A is connected to a line circuit is, the output of which is connected to a multiplexer H; The multiplexer H feeds a plurality of finder-connector links 12, 39,

3!, 32, etc, each of which comprises a line finder Each finder-connector link may be directively controlled to establish a two-way talking circuit between any calling substation of the system, such as the substation A, and any called substation of the system, such as the substation B. To accomplish this, the output sides of the link circuits are commonly connected to the input terminals of a distributor iii, the output terminals of which are individually connected to the different line circuits serving the different lines, including the line circuit it at which 'is terminated the line serving the substation B.

In order to perform the necessary functions to provide a two-way communication system, comil, is provided to supply the requisite gating pulses, dial tones, busy signals, etc., through intercom necting cables to the units referred to above.

Thus, the line circuit is connected to the common equipment I: through a cable l8, the multiplexer H through a cable IS, the finder l3 through a cable 20, the connector M through a cable 25, the distributor [5 through a cable 22 and the line circuit it through a cable 23. It will "be understood that the cables Iii-23 may be separately connected to the common equipment ll, these cables being grouped together merely for convenience in illustrating the connections between the common equipment I! and the other components of the system.

The illustrated system is capable of serving 100 lines or substations and the number of finderconnectcr links necessary 'to give adequate service for the 100 lines of the system is determined by the peak, or busy hour traffic of the system. If

the system utilizes ten per cent trunking to conof the present invention it may be stated that the system of I-i l utilizes a system of multiplexing,

' namely, pulsed sampling efiectively at an ultrasonic rate of the control and intelligence signals produced at each substation of the system, to provide signal channel separation. Specifically, each line or substation A of the system is assigned a particular pulse time position in each of repetitive pulse frames each comprising one hundred time positions. Intelligence and control signals developed at any one substation of the system are sampled only in the particular pulse time position assigned to the particular substation and the samples are carried through the signal transmitting components of the system as far as the connector stage Hi on multiplexer signal pulses oc curring in this particular time position. In the connector stage the control or intelligence signals carried by the multiplexer signal pulses are detected and either used for control purposes, such as called line selection, or are superimposed on connector signal pulses occurring in a new and different time position of successive pulse frames for redistribution to the particular called line and substation assigned the new time position. The same process is employed in transmitting intelligence from the called substation back to the calling substation.

The finder circuit it of the particular finderconnector link l2 which is connected to the corresponding connector l4 by means of conductors position of successive pulse frames which is assigned to the calling line and during which signal bearing pulses derived from the multiplexer ll shall be effective to produce a response in the finder and in the associated connector IQ.

Included in the functions 0.? the finder I3 is that of conditioning the associated connector l l for operation when the link !2 is definitely associated with a calling line to handle the call initiated on the line. This accomplished through operation of the if; to impress operating anode potential upon a plurality of the tubes in the connector is over the +13 switch conductor 34. The finder i3 is also connected to the connector it on an individual link basis by the conductor 33 which supplies finder gate pulses from the finder [3 to the connector it. From the foregoing, it is evident that the +3 switch conductors of the individual links are energized in accordance with seizure of the particular link or links which are necessary at a particular instant to handle the traffic of the system.

In order successively to assign particular ones of the finder-connector links 2 to the use of calling lines, the system disclosed by the application referred to above utilizes an allotter circuit to produce allotter pulses which are supplied to the finder circuit l3 of each link. The allotter pulses function to allot the finders I3 for use in a given sequence. Thus, for example, the allotter assigns the first link to the first calling line, the second link to the second calling line, the third link to the third calling line, etc.

In the system described above, there are many periods during each twenty-four hour day in which a minimum number of finder-connector links is required. Thus, during the early morning and late evening hours, one or two finderconnector links may be sufiicient to handle any trafhc condition which may occur. However, during peak trafiic conditions it is necessary to use the maximum number of links provided, the system illustrated being predicated on a basis of ten per cent trunking or a maximum of ten finder-connector links. Inasmuch as the finders and connectors of individual links employ a large number of vacuum tubes, it is desirable to provide means for supplying filament power to certain of the links only when the links are needed to meet trailic demands. In this connection, it will be appreciated that the ten links illustrated in Fig. 1 are necessary only to meet peak busy hour traffic and hence only a small number of these links need be energized continuously.

To conserve the filament power consumed by the finder-connector links of the system of Fig. l and to anticipate seizure of and prepare for use additional links as they may be needed, there is provided shown in Fig. 2 a power conservation circuit constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Thus, referring to Fig. 2, there is illustrated a group of ten finder-connector links which have been indicated generally by the numerals it-49. The finder-connector links 40-49 are preferably of the type illustrated in the above-identified application, and each of the finder-connector links is interconnected by means of a +3 switching conductor which supplies anode potential to particular circuits of the connectors when the calling line is definitely associated with a particular called line.

In the system illustrated in Fig. 2, the first three links lt-t? are supplied continuously with filament power so that the vacuum tubes employed in the finders and connectors of these links are continuously heated. The three links 40-42 normally handle average non-busy hour traiiic and inasmuch as these links are continuously supplied with filament power, there is no delay due to filament heating and hence no delay in obtaining dial tone when only these links are required to handle traific.

In the event that all three links 48-42 are not needed to handle the trafiic of the system during a given period, means may be provided for timing the application of filament power to the links 4lii2. Specifically, a timer unit 56 may be provided, which is connected to a suitable source of filament power and which controls the application of filament power to the links te-l2. For example, during the early morning and late evening periods, the traific may require only two active links.

During peak traific conditions, the number of calls handled may vary within wide limits and it then becomes necessary to energize additional ones of the finder-connector links 434d. To accomplish this end, control circuits are pro vided which operate from the +3 switch conductors 5|, 52 and 53 respectively of the links 46-42 to supply filament power to the next succeeding finder-connector links 43 and 44. In this connection, it will be recalled that the +3 switching circuit is energized only when a finderconnector link is operatively associated with a particular calling line. Energization of the +B switching circuit of a particular link is an indication that that link is in use and the switching circuit may thus be used as a control means for conditioning additional links to serve additional calling lines.

While any suitable means may be used to control the application of filament power to succeeding finder-connector links in accordance with simultaneous seizure of the continuously heated links, it is preferred to accomplish such control without the use of relays, stepping switches or equivalent mechanical devices having moving parts. Specifically, there is provided in accordance with the present invention saturable core reactor means having control windings energized by the +B switching circuits of the continuously heated links and having a saturation winding suitable for controlling the application of filament power to the next succeeding links. As shown, the control circuit of the present invention comprises a saturable core reactor indicated generally at 60. The saturable core reactor 66 is provided with control windings SI, 62 and 63 which are wound upon the central leg of the core of the reactor fill. One end of each of the control windings 61-63 is connected to ground and the other ends of these windings are connected through the conductors B4, 65 and 66, respectively, to the +13 switching circuits of the finder-connector links 40, 4| and 42. The alternating current, or saturation winding of the reactor 60, comprises a pair of coils G1 and 68 which are wound on the outer legs of the reactor and are series connected to the secondary winding 89 of a filament power transformer is. The primary winding H of the transformer it is connected to any suitable source of alternating current.

The saturable core reactor 65! is of the type having windings positioned on the central leg of the reactor which are supplied with unidirectional current so as to change the degree of saturation in the portion or" the core on which the alternatin current coils El and 68 are located. Thus, the direct magneto-motive force produced by the control windings 61453 acts on the two outer legs of the core in parallel, whereas the alternating magneto-motive force acts on the path including only the outer legs of the core. By variation of the unidirectional current supplied to the control windings 6iiii2, the degree of saturation in the core is varied and hence the reactance of the alternating current windings 61 and Eli is altered.

The other end of the series connected windings 5'! and 53 is connected to the filament circuits of the next succeeding finder-connector links and 4d. Ihus, the coil 6? is connected through conductors '55 and. E8 to the filament circuits ll of the finder-connector link 43 and through conductors l5 and iii to the filament circuits E9 of the finder-connector link 44. The filament circuits ll and it are illustrated in Fig. 2 as comprising a series of filaments which are connected in series from the saturation winding 6? to ground. As the reactance of the windings 67 and 63 is decreased under the influence of the control windings 6I63, the secondary winding ts of the filament transformer it operates to apply filament power to the filament circuits 1! and 7%. In this connection it will be understood that the filaments of the finder circuits and connector circuits of the links 33 and A l may be connected in any desired series or parallel combination, the filaments of the vacuum tubes of these circuits having been indicated as being connected in series merely for convenience of illustration. For example, the tubes of the connector circuit of the link may all be connected in parallel from the conductor IE to ground. It will be appreciated that many combinations of filament connections may be made; however, in all cases, the filament transformer it is arranged to provide the proper potential across the secondary winding 59 thereof for operation of the particular filament network used.

In consideing the operation of the above-described reactor control circuit, it should first be mentioned that e-nergization of the filament circults of the succeeding links it and 44 should not be delayed until all three of the continuously heated links itl? are use. This will be readily apparent when it is considered that two incoming calls may simultaneously require the use of additional finder-connector links so that if all of the linlrs it s-3 are then in use a delay in obtaining dial tone will result due to the time required to bring the filaments of the succeeding links up to the proper operating temperature. Accordingly, it is preferable to provide the +B switching circuits of each of the continuously heated links with the proper circuit constants to give the desired change in reactance 01" the windings ill and 58 when any two of the links fillll: are in use. cation of unidirectional potential to the control winding 6! in response to seizure of the finderconnector link the impedance of the control win-ding i is so chosen that the value of unidircctional potential appli :l thereto from the switching circuit of the link (it is sufficient to provide substantially one-half the necessary change in reectance of the windings ill and 68.

To provide this type of operation, the core 80 of the reactor to is chosen with a saturation curve having a changing slope and a substantially fiat portion wherein there is substantially no change in reactance. Each of the control wincings ti, t2, and 63 is so designed that when energized it provides a direct magneto-motive force su? ient to shift the operating point of reactor to a point substantially half way to the flat portion of the saturation curve, so that simultaneous seizure of any two of the links -42 produc sufiicient direct magneto-motive force to shift the operating point of the reactor onto the fiat portion of the saturation curve. With this arrangement simultaneous seizure of any two of the finder-connector links it-#32 produces a change in the reactance of the windings 6'5, 68 such that the correct operatin potential is supplied to the filament circuits E? and T53 from the filament transformer E ii.

In order more clearly to visualize the above-de- I scribed operation of the saturable core reactor, reference may now be had to Fig. 3, wherein there is illustrated a suitable magnetization curve for the core 8;! or the saturable core reactor. In Fig. 3, current values are plotted along the abscissa of the graph values are plotted along the ordinate thereof. The saturation curve indicated generally at B5 is illustrated as having an initial portion of relatively steep Slope 855, an intermediate portion Bl of substantially reduced slope, and

Thus, considering the applia further portion 88 which is substantially fiat. If it is-assumed that a unidirectional current Io flows through any one of the control windings 65-63 in response to seizure of any one of the links 49-42, the superimposed alternating current excitation supplied by the transformer 10 may cause variation in current from I1 to I2 and a corresponding change in flux from (1)1 to 2. The apparent inductance to alternating current is proportional to the flux change from (p1 to 2, and

hence is proportional to the slope of the saturation curve at any given point. Thus, the reactance of the windings t"! and GB is proportional to the slope of the intermediate portion 81 of the magnetization curve. It is evident from Fig. 3 that the slope of the magnetization curve at the intermediate point cl is Substantially reduced over its value at the initial portion 86 thereof. Consequently, the reactanceof the windings 61 and 6!! is substantially reduced from the no-current value so that proportional amount of filament power is supplied to the filament circuits of the succeeding links 53 and i l. However, the reactance of he windings 6'! and 68 is still sufficiently great with only one of the control windings tl-EB energized to prevent the application of full filament power to the succeeding links 43, 2-5.

When a second one of the links all-e2 is seized in response to an incoming call and seizure of one of the links Q6, M, and the control current is increased by a proportional amount and is indicated as havu g the value I0 in Fig. 3. lhe A. C. excitation superimposed upon the unidirectional current I0 is illustrated as having the values I1 and I2 and causes a corresponding variation in flux from =1 to It is evident from 3 that the slope of the curve at the point 82? thereof is substantially reduced over its value at the initial and intermediate portions of the curve and hence the inductance to alternating current of the windings and 68 is reduced to substantially a .7 minimum value.

With this arrangement, sir-n "-aneous seizure of any two of ie links it- 42 produces suificient change in reactance to supply rated filament power to the succeeding links 53 and 44. If the third one of the continuously heated links itl2 is then seized, the unidirectional control current is increased by a proportional nt. However, the slope of the magnetization 01 vs remains substantially unchanged for further increases in the magnetizing current and hence the reactance of the windings 5i? and 61% remains substantially unchanged and rated filament power is continuously supplied to the additional links 23, M.

With a reactor core having magnetization curve of substantially the configuration shown in Fig. 3 filament power supplied to the additional links at and 4 1 is proportionately increased as a greater number of continuously heated links are placed in use. This is readily apparent from Fig. 3 when it is realized that the initial slope 86 of the magnetization curve is substantially greater than the slope of succeeding portions thereof so that seizure of any one of the links causes a proportional heating of the filament circuits of the succeeding links and a consequent reduction in the preheating tirie required by these circuits. By using a core with a magnetization curve of the above-described configuration, fewer additional links need be preheated inasmuch as the additional links are brought closer and closer to the proper operating temperature as the number of seized continuously heated links increases. The use of a core having a magnetization curve of the abovedescribed type has the further advantage of heating and cooling the filaments or" the additional links 43 and 44 at a more gradual rate, thereby prolonging the life of the vacuum tubes in these links.

In the event that a maximum amount of filament power is to be conserved, a saturable core reactor may be chosen with a core material having a relatively sharp inflection point or knee, above which the magnetization curve is substantially flat. For example, the core material may be of the type known as mixed crystal ferrites, or ferrite magnetic material having high permeability and resistivity, which material is commonly used in sweep transformers and other high efiiciency circuits and has a magnetization curve of the above-described type. However, it will be appreciated that any suitable core material having initial and final portions of uniform slope connected by a sharp inflection point or knee may be utilized. With a magnetization curve of uniform slope up to the knee portion thereof it will be readily apparent that the reactance of the windings I57 and 68 will not change appreciably until the knee of the curve is passed. With such an arrangement, the filament power dissipated in the additional links 43 and 4 3 is held to a minimum, inasmuch as substantially no power is supplied to these additional links until simultaneous seizure of a suificient number of the continuously heated links occurs to shift the operating point beyond the knee of the curve.

In order that the initial operating point of the saturable. core reactor 50 may be varied so as to provide the correct value of reactance for simultaneous seizure of any two of the links 60-42, means may be provided for varying the operating point of the saturable core reactor. Specifically, an auxiliary control winding 90 may be provided which is positioned on the center leg of the reactor and is connected through a variable resistor SI and a unidirectional source. of potential 92 to ground. With this arrangement, the flow of current through the auxiliary winding 90 may be varied so as to obtain the correct operating point when the links 40-42 are in use.

When either of the additional links 43 or 44 are supplied with rated filament power and the link is seized on an incoming call, it is necessary to provide an interlock circuit to insure the application of filament power to the seized additional link for the duration of the call irrespective of the termination of the calls on one or more of the controlling links 30-42. To accomplish this end, locking windings 95 and 96 are provided which are positioned on the central core of the reactor and which are respectively arranged to be controlled by the +B switching circuits of the additional links 43 and MI. Thus, the locking windin 95 is connected through the conductor 91 to the +3 switching conductor of the link 23 and the locking winding 96 is connected through the conductor 93 to the +B switching conductor of the link 44. In order toinsure that the links 43 and 44 are supplied with rated filament power even though all of the continuously heated links 40-52 are idle, the looking windings 95 and 96 are so chosen that they cause a change in direct magneto-motive force equivalent to the change produced by any two of the continuously heated links ell-42. For example, when the link 43 is seized by an incoming call, the +3 switching circuit thereof pro- 10 vides suflicient flow of current through the locking winding to shift the operating point of the reactor to the substantially flat portion or" the magnetization curve so that subsequent termination of calls on the continuously heated links 46-42 will cause substantially no change in the filament power supplied to the link 43. Likewise,

the link 44, when placed in use, supplies the necessary current to locking winding 96 so as to insure the application of rated filament power to the link 44 during the period when the link is In use.

In the system described thus far, the circuits are arranged so that when any two of the three continuously heated links fill-d2 are in use, the links 43 and 44 are prepared for use in anticipation of possible seizure of the third link 42. Under normal conditions this arrangement assures link availability without time delay as the tranic becomes slightly heavier during the busy hour periods. However, the peak demand during the busy hour periods may be more than the continuously heated links can handle and one of the next group of links; namely, link 43 or link it, will be seized. Upon seizure of either the link 43 or 44, it is desirable to energize the remaining links in the system, namely, the links 4549, it being preferred to energize the remainder of the links when either the fourth or the fifth link is seized so as to avoid rapid turning on and off of the remaining links with traffic fluctuations. With such a method of operation the remaining links 45-49 are heated when either r the fourth or the fifth link is in use so that the remaining links 45-49 are not subjected to rapid heating and cooling cycles and the consequent shortening of tube life which results therefrom.

In order to apply rated filament power to the remaining links 4-5-09 in response to seizure of either of the links 43 or 44, there is provided a second saturable core reactor, indicated generally at I00. The reactor I00 is provided with a pair of control windings IOI and I02 which are connected respectively to the +13 switching circuits of the links 43 and 4 3, one end of each of the control windings IOI and I02 being connected to ground. Thus, the control winding IOI is connected through the conductor N53 to the +3 switching conductor of link 43 and the control winding I 02 is connected through a conductor I04 to the +3 switching conductor of link 4 3. The alternating current winding of the reactor I00 comprises a pair of coils I05 and I08 which are wound on the outer legs of the core of the reactor I00, the coils I05 and I06 being connected in series to the secondary I01 of a second filament transformer I08. The primary winding of the transformer I08 is connected to any suitable source of alternating current. The coil I05 is connected through the conductors I09 and I I0 to the filament circuits I I I of the finder and connector units of the link 45. Likewise, filament power is supplied to the filament circuits of the remaining finder-connector links, conductor II3 being illustrated as applying power to the filament circuits II2 of the last link 49. To control the operating point of the saturable reactor, an auxiliary winding H5 is provided which is positioned on the central leg of the reactor and is connected through a variable resistor IIB to a unidirectional source of potential illustrated as the battery 1.

In considering the operation of the second reactor control circuit, it is evident that the control windings I01 and W2 are again supplied from the +13 switching circuits of their respective finder-connector links. However, the impedance of the windings l! and I02 is so chosen that the current flowing therethrough in response to energization of the +B switching circuit of the particular link produces a suflicient magnetomotive force to shift the operating point of the reactor to the substantially fiat portion of the magnetization curvef Thus, seizure of either the link 43 or the link 44 causes sufiicient current to flow through the associated control winding H3! or I02 to change the reactance of windings I05, I06 so as to supply rated filament power from the transformer N38 to the remaining links 45 39. In this connection it will be understood that the correct value of magnetizing current may be provided either by proper adjustment of the potential supplied from the +13 switching circuit, or in the alternative, by means of a voltage dropping resistor (not shown) which may be connected in series with the control winding so as to control the current flowing through the winding.

In order to insure that the remaining links 45-49 are supplied with rated filament power for the period when the links may be in use, there are provided locking windings associated with each one of the links 45-49 so as to insure continuous use of the link even though the links 4044 are idle. Thus, there is provided a locking winding I20 which is positioned on the central leg of the reactor see and is connected from the +13 switching circuit of link 45 to ground. Likewise, the remaining links are provided with looking windings, the link 49 being illustrated as provided with a locking winding I24. With this arrangement seizure of any of the links 45-49 causes energization of the +13 switching circuit incorporated therein and a consequent flow of current through the locking winding associated therewith. The value of current flowing through the locking windings [Ell-124 is so chosen that the operating point of the reactor is shifted to the flat portion of the magnetization curve whereby rated filament power is supplied to the particular seized link for the duration of the call.

The power conservation circuit discussed above has been illustrated in connection with a telephone system employing a 10 per cent trunking arrangement between the lines of the system, that is, a group of ten finder-connector links is considered sufficient to handle the maximum traffic between the one hundred lines of the system. In the event that higher percentage trunking is needed, as, for example, in commercial exchanges where the busy hour traffic is substantially greater, the number of continuously heated links may be increased so as to provide for heavier average traffic. It will therefore be appreciated that the illustration of the use of a group of three continuously heated links, a group of two subsequently energized links and a group of five finally energized links, is made only by way of illustration and that the present invention is not specifically limited to the arrangement shown. More generally considered, the finder-connector links may be grouped into a first group of continuously heated links, a second group of links adapted to handle busy hour periods, and a third group of links adapted to handle fluctuations in the busy hour periods. Thus, in the illustrated system, the links 48- 12 are continuously heated, the links 43 and 44 are 12; conditioned for use upon simultaneous seizure of any two of the links it- 32, and the remaining links 39 are conditioned for use upon seizure of either of the links 43 or 4:1.

The conservation of filament power may also be achieved by the alternative embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein there is shown a control circuit employing relays which are controlled by individual links or" the system. Thus, referring to Fig. 4, the system is again illustrated as employed 10 per cent trunking, there being ten finder-connector links illustrated in block diagram form by the numerals la- 59. The +3 switch conductors of individual links are connected to a series of relays Hit-$35}. Seizurc of any one of the links causes energization of the +B switch conductor associated therewith and hence energization of the relay circuit connected to the +3 switching circuit, so that the contacts or" the relay are closed upon seizure of the link associated therewith. In the systel illustrated in Fig. 4., the first three links id- 12 are again illustrated as being continuously heated. Thus, the link lll is supplied with filament power through the conductor l lil, the link iil is supplied with filament power through he conductor Hit and the link is supplied with filament power through the conductor hi2. Filament power is illustrated as being supplied from the secondary winding 413 of a filament transformer 5 3%, the primary winding of which is connected to a suitable source oi alternating current.

In order to apply filament power to the links 63 and is in response to simultaneous seizure of any two of the first three links, the contacts of the relays ltd-532 are interconnected in the manner shown in Fig. 4. Thus, considering the case when the links All and ll are simultaneously in use, the contacts t ll: associated with relay its and the contacts M5 and It? associated with relay i3! are all closed. Filament power is thus supplied to the links t3 and i l through the contacts MS and M6 the conductors Elli? and H39. If links ll and :12 are simultaneously in use, the contacts its and M1 associated with the relay iSl and the contacts i551 and I5! associated with the relay 132 are all closed. Filament power is then supplied to the links it and ti l through the contacts i l! and I58 and the conductors its and me. In the event that links ill and #2 are simultaneously in use the contacts Hi5, and the contacts ifill and 151 are all closed so that filament power is supplied to links 53 M through the contacts Hi5 and ass and the conductors its I49.

In th event that either one of the links t3 or t l is seized, the remaining links are then supplied wtih rated filament pov so as to avoid rapid turning on and off of the remaining links due to traffic fluctuations as has been discussed in connection with the circuit of Fig. 2. In the embodiment of Fig. 4, such operation is obtained by interconnecting the relay contacts associated with relays W3 and ass in the manner shown in Fig. l. Thus, when the link 1'53 is seized on an incoming call, the contacts Hi2 and 53 associated with the relay 233 are closed and filament power is supplied through the contacts 553 and the conductors ill to the remaining links ill-i9. If the link M is seized on an incoming call, the contacts 555 and i553 associated with relay use are closed and filament power is supplied through the closed contacts I and the conductor 15 1 to the remaining links 35- 19.

If the controlling links 49-42 are released while links 43 or 44 are being used, it is necessary to provide auxiliary means for supplying filament power to the links 43 and 44 while they are in use. In the illustrated embodiment such a lockin arrangement is provided by the contacts associated with the individual relays of the links 43 and i i. Thus, when the link 33 is in use, the contacts I are closed so as to insure the ap plication of filament power to the link 43, al-= though all of the contacts associated with relays [30-132 are open. Likewise, when the link M is in use, the contacts I55 are closed so as to insure the application of filament power to the link 44. In the event that the contacts I53 and I56, which supply filament power to the remaining links 45-t9 in response to seizure of either of the links :33 or M, are opened while one of the remaining links 35-59 is in use, the remaining links are provided with relay contacts which insure the application of filament power thereto during the period of the call. Thus, when the link E5 is seized on an incoming call, the contacts associated with relay I35 are closed so as to insure the application of filament power to the link as although the relay contacts associated with relays mil-43d may be open. Likewise, each of the remaining links it-4i is provided with locking contacts, the contacts 558 being illustrated as controlling the last link 49.

While the system has been described in connection with an electronic telephone system employing an ailotter circuit, wherein the links are assigned for use in predetermined order, it will be understood that the power conservation circuit of the present invention may equally well be employed in a self-allotting system. Thus, if no allotter pulses are supplied to particular ones of the individual finder-connector links, the three links which are energized continuously become first choice links by virtue of their being the only ones able to associate themselves with particular calling lines, the other links being unheated and hence unable to establish the requisite circuits between the calling and called lines of the system.

While there have been described. what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein which are within the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letter Patent of the United States is:

1. In an automatic telephone system, a plurality of lines, first and second groups of line selecting links, means including said links for setting up connections between said lines, means for supplying rated power to the links of said first group to render the same normally operative to set up connections between said lines, means for supplying less than rated power to the links of said second group to prevent the same from setting up said connections, and means responsive to seizure of a predetermined number of the links of said first group by calling ones of said lines for supplying rated power to at least a portion of the links of said second group to condition the same for operation in setting up said connections.

2. In an automatic telephone system, a plurality of lines, first and second groups of line selecting links, means including said links for setting up connections between said lines, means in each of said links for developing a control potential in response to operative association of the link with a calling one of said lines, means for supplying rated power to the links of said first group to render the same normally operative to set up connections between said lines, means for supplying less than rated power to the links of said second group to prevent the same from setting up said connections, and means jointly responsive to the control potentials developed by a predetermined number of the links in said first group for supplying rated power to at least a portion of the links of said second group to condition the same for operation in setting up said connections.

3. In an electronic telephone system of the common equipment type having a series of electronic circuits individual ones of which are arranged to be seized in accordance with the traffic requirements of the system, means for conserving the filament power supplied to said series of electronic circuits comprising, means for continuously supplying fiilament power to a first group in said series of electronic circuits, and means responsive to simultaneous seizure of a predetermined number of said first group of circuits for supplying filament power to the remaining ones of said series or" electronic circuits thereby to condition the same for subsequent seizure in the event that all of said first group of circuits are busy.

4. In an electronic telephone system of the common equipment type and having a series of electronic circuits individual ones of which are arranged to be seized in accordance with the traffic requirements of the system, means for conserving the filament power supplied to said series of electronic circuits comprising, means for continuously supplying filament power to a first group of said series of electronic circuits, means responsive to simultaneous seizure of a predetermined number of said first group of circuits for supplying filament power to a second group of electronic circuits within said series, and means responsive to seizure of any one of said second group of circuits for supplying filament power to the remaining ones of said series of circuits.

5. In an electronic telephone system of the common equipment type and having a series of electronic circuits individual ones of which are arranged to be seized in accordance with the traffic requirements of the system, means for conserving the filament power supplied to said series of electronic circuits comprising, means for continuously supplying filament power to a first group or" said series of electronic circuits, means responsive to simultaneous seizure of a predetermined number of said first group of circuits for supplying filament power to a second group of electronic circuits within said series, and means responsive to seizure of any one of said second group of circuits for supplying filament power to the remaining ones of said series of circuits and for maintaining filament power supplied to the seized circuit in said second group.

6. In an electronic telephone system of the common equipment type and having a series of electronic circuits individual ones of which are arranged to be seized in accordance with the trafiic requirements of the system, means for conserving the filament power supplied to said series of electronic circuits comprising, means for continuously supplying filament power to a first group of said series of electronic circuits,

and means responsive to simultaneous seizure of a predetermined number of said first group of circuits for supplying filament power to the remaining ones of said series of electronic circuits thereby to condition the same for subsequent seizure in the event that all of said first group of circuits are occupied, and means responsive to seizure of any one of said remaining circuits for maintaining filament power supplied to said seized remaining link.

'7. In an electronic telephone system of the common equipment type and having a first group of continuously heated electronic circuits individual ones of which are adapted to be seized in accordance with the average traffic requirements of the system, a second group of electronic circuits adapted to be seized in accordance with the busy hour traffic of the system and a third group of electronic circuits adapted to be seized in accordance with fluctuations in the busy hour traffic of the system, means for conserving the filament power requirements of said groups of electronic circuits comprising, means responsive to simultaneous seizure of a predetermined num ber of said first group of circuits for supplying filament power to said second group of circuits, and means responsive to seizure of any one of said second group of circuits for supplying filament power to said third group of circuits.

8. In an electronic telephone system of the common equipment type and having a first group of electronic circuits individual ones of which are adapted to be seized in accordance with the average traffic requirements of the system, a second group of electronic circuits adapted to be seized in accordance with the busy hour trafiic of the system and a third group of electronic circuits adapted to be seized in accordance with fluctuations in the busy hour traffic of the system, means for conserving the filament power requirements of said system comprising, timing means for controlling the application of filament power to said first group of electronic circuits in accordance with the average trafiic requirements of the system, means responsive to simultaneous seizure of a predetermined number of said first group of circuits for supplying filament power to said second group of circuits, and means responsive to seizure of any one of said second group of circuits for supplying filament power to said third group of circuits.

9. In an electronic telephone system, means for conserving the filament power required by a series of finder-connector links of said system comprising, means for continuously supplying filament power to a first group of said finderconnector links, means responsive to simultaneous, seizure of a predetermined number of said first group of links for supplying filament power to a second group of links in said series of links, and means responsive to seizure of any one of said second group of links for supplying filament power to the remaining links in said series.

10. In an electronic telephone system of the type comprising a series of filament power consuming line selecting links and means including said links for setting up connections between the lines of the system and wherein said links are seized in accordance with the trafiic requirements of the system, the combination of, a first group of continuously heated links within said so 'ies of link means responsive to simultaneous seizure of a predetermined number of links in said first group for supplying filament power to a second group of links within said series,

means responsive to seizure of any link in said second group for sppplying filament power to the remaining links in said series, means responsive to seizure of any link in said second group for maintaining lament power supplied to the seized link in said second group, and means responsive to seizure of any one of said remaining links for maintaining filament power supplied to said seized remaining link.

11. In an electronic telephone system of the type comprising a series of filament power consuming line selecting links and means including said links for setting up connections between the lines of the system and wherein said links are seized in accordance with the trafiic requirements of the system, means for conserving the filament power consumed by said series or line selecting links comprising, means for supplying filament power continuously to a first group of said links, means responsive to simultaneous seiz re of a predetermined number of said cont uously heated links for supplying filament power to a second group in said series of links, means responsive to seizure of any link in said second group for maintaining filament power supplied to said seized link, and means responsive to seizure of any link in said second group for supplying filament power to the remaining links in said series.

12. In an electronic telephone system of the type comprising a series of filament power consuming line selecting links and means include ing said links for setting up connections between the lines of the system and wherein said links are seized in accordance with the traffic requirements of the system, means for conserving the filament power consumed by said series of line selecting links comprising, means for supplying filament power continuously to a first group of said line selecting links, means responsive to simultaneous seizure of a predetermined number of said continuously heated links for supplying filament power to a second group of links in series, and means responsive to seizure of any link in said second group for supplying filament power to the remaining links in said series and for maintaining filam nt power supplied to the seized link in said second group.

13. In an electronic telephone system of the type comprising a series of filament power consuming line selecting links and means including said links for setting up connections between the lines of the system and wherei said links are seized in accordance with the traffic requirements of the system, a first group of links within said series being continuously supplied with filament power, means for conserving the filament power consumed by said series or" line selecting links comprising, a saturable core reactor having a plurality of control windings, a saturation winding and a plurality of locking windings, for energizing successive ones of said control windings in accordance with seizure of successive ones of said first group of links, controlled by said saturation winding for supplying filament power to the remaining ones of said series of links in response to simultaneous seizure of a predetermined number of links in first group thereby to condition said remaining links for subsequent seizure, and means for energizing any one of said locking windings in accordance with seizure of any one of said remaining links.

14. In an electronic telephone system of the type comprising a seies oi filament power consuming line selecting links and means including said links for setting up connections between the lines of the system and wherein said links are seized in accordance with the traffic requirements of the system, a first group of links within said series being continuously supplied with filament power, means for conserving the filament power consumed by series of line selecting links comprising, a saturable core reactor having a plurality of control windings and a saturation winding, means for energizing successive ones of said control windings in accordance with seizure of successive ones of said first group of links, means controlled by said saturation winding for supplying filament power to the remaining ones of said series of links in response to simultaneous seizure of a predetermined number of links in said first group thereby to condition said remaining links for subsequent seizure.

15. In an electronic telephone system of the type comprising; a series of filament power consuming line selecting links and means including said links for setting up connections between the lines of the system and wherein said links are seized in accordance with the traffic requirements or the system, a first group of links within said series being continuously supplied with filament power, means for conserving the filament power consumed by said series of links comprising, a saturable core reactor having a plurality of con trol windings, each of said control windings being controlled by a link in said first group, a satura tion winding on said saturable core reactor, means controlled by said saturation winding for supplying filament power to the remaining ones of said series of line selecting links in response to simultaneous seizure of a predetermined number of links in said first group thereby to condition said remaining links for subsequent seizure, and interlocking means responsive to seizure of any one of said remaining links for maintaining filament power supplied thereto during seizure thereof.

16. In an electronic telephone system of the type comprising a series of filament power consuming line selecting links and means including said links for setting connections between the lines of the system and wherein said links are seized in accordance with the traffic requirements of the system, a first group of links within said series being continuously supplied with filament power, means for conserving the filament power consumed by said series of links comprising, a saturable core reactor having a plurality of control windings, each of said control windings being controlled by a link in said first group, a saturation winding on said saturable core reactor, means controlled said saturation winding for supplying filament power to the remaining ones of said series of line selecting links in response to simultaneous seizure of a predetermined number of links in said first group thereby to condition said remaining links for subsequent seizure.

17. In an electronic telephone system of the type comprising a series of filament power consuming line selecting links and means including said links for setting up connections between the lines of the system and wherein said links are seized in accordance with the traffic requirements of the system, means for conserving the filament power consumed by said series of line selecting links comprising, means for supplying filament power continuously to a first group of said line selecting links, saturable core reactor means for supplying filament power to the remaining ones of said series of links in response to simultaneous seizure of a predetermined number of links in said first group thereby to condition said remaining links for subsequent seizure, and means responsive to seizure of any one of said remaining links for maintaining filament power supplied to the seized remaining link.

18. In an electronic telephone oi the type comprising a series of filament power consuming line selecting links and means including said links for setting up connections between the lines of the system and wherein said links are seized in accordance with the traffic requirements of the system, means for conserving the filament power consumed by said series of line selecting links comprising, means for supplying filament power continuously to a first group of said line selecting links, saturable core reactor means for supplying filament power to the remaining ones of said series of links in response to simultaneous seizure of predetermined number of links in said first group thereby to condition said remaining links for subsequent seizure.

19. In an electronic telephone system of the type comprising a series or filament power consuming line selecting links and means including said links for setting up connections between the lines of the system and wherein said links are seized in accordance with the traffic requirements of the system, means for conserving the filament power consumed by said series of line selecting links comprising, means for supplying filament power continuously to a first group of said line selecting links, first saturable core reactor means for supplying filament power to a second group of links within said series of links in response to simultaneous seizure of a predetermined number of links in said first group, and second saturable core reactor means for supplying filament power to the remaining links in said series in response to seizure of any one of the links in said second group.

20. In an electronic telephone system of the type comprising a series of filament power consuming line selecting links and means including said links for setting up connections between the lines of the system and wherein said links are seized in accordance with t'-e trai'fic requirements of the system, means for conserving the filament power consumed by said series of line selecting links comprising, means for supplying filament power continuously to a first group of said line selecting links, first saturable core reactor means for supplying filament power to a second group of links within said series of links in response to simultaneous seizure of a predetermined number of links in said first group, said first saturable core reactor means including means responsive to seizure of any link in said second group for maintaining filament power supplied to said seized link, and second saturable core reactor means for supplying filament power to the remaining links in said series in response to seizure of any one of the links in said second group.

21. In an electronic telephone system of the type comprising a series of filament power consuming line selecting links and means including said links for setting up connections between the lines of the system and wherein said links are seized in accordance with the trafic requirements of the system, means for conserving the filament power consumed by said series of line selecting links comprising, means for supplying filament power continuously to a first group of said line selecting links, first saturable core reactor means for supplying filament power to a second group of links within said series of links in response to 19 simultaneous seizure of a predetermined number of links in said first group, and second saturable core reactor means for supplying filament power to the remaining links in said series in response to seizure of any one of the links in said second group, and means responsive to seizure of any one of said remaining links for maintaining filament power supplied. to said seized remaining link.

22. In an electronic telephone system of the type comprising a series of filament power consuming line selectin links and means including said links for setting up connections between the lines of the system and wherein said links are seized in accordance with the traffic requirements of the system, means for conserving the filament power consumed by said series of line selecting links comprising, means for supplying filament power continuously to a first group of said line selecting links, a first saturable core reactor having a control winding connected to each of said continuously heated links, a first saturation winding and a locking windin connected to each link in a second group in said series of links, means controlled by said first saturation winding for supplying filament power to said second group of link in response to simultaneous seizure of a predetermined number of said continuously heated links, means responsive to seizure of any link in said second group for maintaining filament power supplied thereto, a second saturable core reactor having a control winding connected to each link in said second group a second saturation windin and a locking windin connected to each of the remaining links in said series, means controlled by said second saturation winding for supplying filament power to said remaining links, and means responsive to seizure of any one of said remaining links for maintaining filament power supplied to said seized remaining link.

23. In an electronic telephone system of the type comprising a series of filament power consuming line selecting links and means including said links for setting up connections between the lines or the system and wherein said links are seized in accordance with the traffic requirements of the system, means for conserving the filament power consumed by said series of line selecting links comprising, means for supplying filament power continuously to a first group of said line selecting links, a saturable core reactor having a control winding connected to each of said continuously heated links, a saturation windin and a locking winding connected to each link in a second group in said series of links, means controlled by said saturation winding for supplying filament power to said second group of links in response to simultaneous seizure of a predetermined number of said continuously heated links, and means responsive to seizure of any link in said second group for maintaining filament power supplied thereto.

24. In an electronic telephone system the combination of, a first group of continuously heated finder-connector links, a second group of links adapted to be seized in accordance with busy hour traffic of the system, and a third group of links adapted to be seized in accordance with fluctuations in busy hour traffic of the system, means responsive to simultaneous seizure of a predetermind number of links in said first group for supplyin filament power to said second group of links, means responsive to seizure of any one of any link in said second group for supplying filament power to said third group of 20 links, and locking means for maintaining filament power supplied to any seized link in said second and third groups.

25. In an electronic telephone system of the type comprising a series of filament power consuming line selecting links and means including said links for settingup connections between the lines of the system and wherein said links are seized in accordance with the trafiic requirements of the system, means for conserving the filament power consumed by said series of line selecting links comprising, means for continuously supplying filament power to a first group or" said series of line selecting links, relay control means associated with individual ones of said first group of links for supplying filament power to a second group in said series of line selecting links in response to simultaneous seizure of a predetermined number of said first grou of line selecting links, and relay control means associated with individual ones of said second group of line selecting links for supplying filament power to the remaining links in said cries in response to seizure of any one link in said second group of links.

26. In an electronic telephone system of the type comprising a series of filament power consuming line selecting links and means including said links for setting up connections between the lines of the system and wherein said links are seized in accordance with the trafiic requirements of the system, means for conserving the filament power consumed by said series of line selecting links comprising, means for continu ously supplyin filament power to a first group of said series of line selecting links, and relay control means associated with individual ones of first group of links for supplying filament power to a second group in said series of line selecting links in response to simultaneous seizure of a predetermined number of said first group of line selecting links.

2'7. In an electronic telephone system of the type comprising a series of filament power consuming line selectin links and means including said links for setting up connections between the lines of the system and wherein said links are seized in accordance with the traffic requirements of the system, means for conserving the filament power consumed by said series of line selecting links comprising, means for continuously supplying filament power to a first group of said series of line selecting links, and means responsive to seizure of at least one of the links in said first group over one of said lines for conditioning at least one of the remaining links in said series for operation by supplying rated filament power thereto.

28. In an automatic telephone system of the type comprisin a series of filament power consuming line selecting links and means including said links for setting up connections between the lines of the system and wherein said links are seized in accordance with the traffic requirements of the system, means for conserving the filament power consumed by said series of line selecting links comprising, means for supplying rated filament power to a first group of links in said series in accordance with the average traific requirements of the system, and means for progressively increasing the filament power supplied to a second roup of links in said series in proportion to the number of links in said first group which are simultaneously in use, whereby the links in said second group are conditioned for 21 operation in response to the simultaneous seizure of a predetermined number of links in said first group.

29. In an automatic telephone system of the type comprising a series of filament power consuming line selecting links and means including said links for setting up connections between the lines of the system and wherein said links are seized in accordance with the trafiic requirements of the system, means for conserving the filament power consumed by said series of line selecting links comprising means for supplying rated filament power to a first group of links in said series in accordance with the average traffic requirements of the system, and means for reducing the filament preheating time of a second group of links in said series in proportion to the number of links in said first group which are simultaneously in use.

30. In an automatic telephone system of the type comprising a series of filament power consuming line selecting links and means including said links for setting up connections between the lines of the system and wherein said links are seized in accordance with the trafiic requirements of the system, means for conserving the filament power consumed by said series of line selecting links comprising, means for supplying rated filament power to a first group of links in said series in accordance with the average trafiic requirements of the system, and means for reducing the filament preheating time of a second group of links in said series in proportion to the number of links in said first group which are simultaneously in use, said last named means being operative to supply rated filament power to the links in said second group when a predetermined number of links in said first group are simultaneously seized.

31. In an automatic telephone system of the type comprising a series of filament power consuming line selecting links and means including said links for setting up connections between the lines of the system and wherein said links are seized in accordance with the traific requirements of the system, means for conserving the filament power consumed by said series of line selecting links comprising, means for supplying rated filament power to a first group of links in said series in accordance with the average traifie requirements of the system, means including a saturable core reactor Jointly controlled by the links in said first group for supplying filament power to a second group of links in said series, said last named means being operative to supply rated filament power to the links in said second group when a predetermined number of links in said first group are simultaneously seized, and means responsive to seizure of any one link in said second group for maintaining rated filament power supplied to said one link while said one link remains seized.

32. In an automatic telephone system of the type comprising a series of line selecting links and means including said links for setting up connections between the lines of the system and wherein said links are seized in accordance with the traffic requirements of the system, means for conserving the filament power consumed by said series of line selecting links comprising, means for supplying rated filament power to a first group of links in said series in accordance with the average trafiic requirements of the system, means including a saturable cone reactor for supplying filament power to a second group of links in said series, means controlled by the links in said first group for changing the saturation level of said reactor in proportion to the number of links in said first group which are simultaneously in use, the simultaneous seizure of a predetermined number of links less than the total number of links in said first group producing sufiicient change in the saturation level of said reactor to supply rated filament power to at least one link in said second group, and means responsive to seizure of said one link in said second group for changing the saturation level of said reactor by an amount equal to the total change produced by said predetermined number of links in said first group, whereby rated filament power is supplied to said one link while said one link remains seized irrespective of the idle or busy condition of the links in said first group.

References Cited in the file of thi patent, UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,036,233 Pakala Apr. 7, 1936 2,272,755 Summers Feb. 10, 1942 2,350,177 MacKen May 30, 1944 2,385,061 Clark Sept. 18, 1945 2,414,936 Edwards et a1 June 28, 1947 2,421,919 Avery June 10, 1947 

